- Date
- February 3, 1982, 03:25 local (08:25 UTC)
- Place
- Indianapolis, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2777BBell 206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 3, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820203004569A
- Case key
- 71147
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The engine lost power during a night flight while enroute to obtain fuel. The low RPM audio and warning light were noted when the loss of power occurred. The pilot entered an autorotative descent and turned to land on an interstate highway. As he started to decelerate for landing, power lines became visible in his flight path. He dumped the nose and dove under the power lines, then flared and touched down at about 25 to 30 mph. During the last part of a ground slide, the main rotor struck a pole for an overhead sign and a speed limit sign. No pre-accident engine failures were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2777B
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45218
- Airframe hours
- 664
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Evergreen Helicopter Inc.
- Registered owner
- Evergreen Helicopter Inc.
- Departed
- Indianapolis, IN
- Destination
- Indianapolis, IN
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,646 total · 10 in this make and model · 2,395 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IND, 3 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.